President Donald Trump was in Texas Thursday, meeting with families who lost loved-ones in the Santa Fe school shooting. He also participated in previously-planned political fundraisers while in the state.

“He’s definitely trying to bolster up his reelection efforts, and that was a main part of his visit,” Samuels says. “And I think he’s also trying to help other Senate Republicans, such as Ted Cruz.”

A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that Cruz has an 11-point lead over Democratic challenger, Beto O’Rourke. In April, a poll from the same group rated the race too close to call.

In the governor’s race, incumbent Greg Abbott has a substantial lead over Democrat Lupe Valdez, as well as an advantage in name identification around the state.

In the wake of the Santa Fe shooting, and release of the governor’s school safety plan, Abbott has expressed openness to the idea of calling a special session of the legislature.